Using X-ray Technology to Sterilize Medical Devices |Biomedgrid

Half of single-use medical devices are sterilized using irradiation. Probably more than 80% of the industrial irradiation capacity is dedicated to sterilization of disposable or single-use medical devices. There are three main industrial irradiation technologies: gamma (based on 60Cobalt radioactive sources) which counts for about 80% of radiation capacity installed worldwide; electron beam which counts for about 20% of the total radiation capacity installed; and X-ray which has started to gain a foothold in the irradiation market. The adoption of alternative technologies is of highest importance to many medical device manufacturers due to the fact that the 60Cobalt sources in the world are ending and thus the price for the gamma sterilization services is increasing. Alternate sterilization method is X-Ray which is comparable to gamma. High-energy X-rays are similar to gamma rays. Radiation sterilization by X-rays is another option for sterilization of medical devices and other products.